You’ve been working hard all year so why not treat yourself and a loved one to a pre-Xmas break from your everyday routine. You can relax, have fun, drink and eat or just enjoy yourself before diving back into the holiday rush. We’ve got a number of suggestions for must-sees – take a look.

French 75 is at 813 Bienville Street and has been touted as “One of the top five bars in the country” by Esquire magazine. This spot is all wood and patrician accents, but the staff is friendly and down-to-earth. The bar menu offers everything from house-made Gaufrette potato chips (cut with the waffle blade) to Jumbo Gulf shrimp stuffed with brie or deep-fried Boudin-stuffed wontons that taste like no wonton you’ve ever had.

Markey’s is a unique neighborhood hangout. Or as one fan says, “It puts every shuffleboard table I’ve seen in New Orleans to shame.” Markey’s is a charming dive bar you’ll find at 640 Louisa Street. It stands out for a number of reasons: A barn-red exterior you can’t miss, cheap beer, an excellent jukebox and the shuffleboard we just mentioned. Or, as the Trillist says, “We believe that Markey’s Bar is the best Irish bar in New Orleans.”

Bulldog is a favorite of the younger crowd or shall we say, “College students love it.” You’ll find this place at 3236 Magazine Street – well actually they have five locations, but we’re not getting into that. Bulldog has 40 or so brews on tap and more than 100 by the bottle or can – from Louisiana to Mexico to Italy and points beyond. In the warmer weather the best place to sit is the courtyard. It gets a great turnout almost every evening.  

Bulldog has a passion for canines and donates tens of thousands of dollars or as one spokesperson says, “We are the lead sponsor of ‘New Orleans on Tap’ – one of the biggest fundraising events for the Louisiana SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).”  

Finn McCool’s is said to be “the best neighborhood bar” in New Orleans and, as they say, “We’re known for our love and support of football.” Located at 3701 Banks Street, Finn’s is an excellent spot at any time – but especially during St. Paddy’s Day. They have nine indoor screens and two outdoor ones that include several 64-inch LCD screens as well as 8 ft. and 6 ft. projection screens.    

There’s more to go but we’re running out of space so we’ll talk about Frenchmen Street later. Tour guides will tell you that this street is an off-the-beaten-path gem, a “local’s Bourbon Street” where the real New Orleanians gather to listen to live music and grab a drink.   

The holiday season is just starting to heat up – we’ll be back with bells on!

Shaun Nelson-Henrick